--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since trifles make the sum of human…" description: "\"“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from trifles springs– Oh! let the ungentle spirit learn from thence A small unkindness..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/emily-eden-20730_quote_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_1832056.jpg" --- # Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our… ![“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from trifles springs– Oh! let the ungentle spirit learn from thence A small unkindness is a great offence.” quote by Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/emily-eden-20730_quote_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_1832056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/emily-eden-20730_quote_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_1832056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/emily-eden-20730_quote_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_1832056.jpg) > ““Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from trifles springs– Oh! let the ungentle spirit learn from thence A small unkindness is a great offence.”” [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small unkind acts cause disproportionate suffering, teaching that minor offenses can become serious grievances. **In simple terms:** Minor wrongs can cause big pain. Key Takeaway Treat small slights seriously. Themes trifles misery offence Mood reflective cautionary Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - interpersonal conflicts - workplace etiquette - family dynamics Key Concepts human nature ethical conduct social harmony Questions to Reflect On - How can we address small grievances before they grow? - What teaches us about the impact of minor actions? A Different Perspective Focusing on minor faults may overlook larger issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Misery Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery-trifles-2282064/) [Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/) [Trifles Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles-make-1502590/) [Trifles Springs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles-springs-2282066/) [Ungentle Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ungentle-spirit-2282065/) ## Related quotes > [Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs; Since life's best joys consist in peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-3/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/trifles-make-perfection-and-perfection-is-no-trifle/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Trifles make up the happiness or the misery of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/trifles-make-up-the-happiness-or-the-misery-of-human-life/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Trifles make perfection but perfection is not a trifle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/trifles-make-perfection-but-perfection-is-not-a-trifle/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Trifles make up the happiness or the misery of mortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/trifles-make-up-the-happiness-or-the-misery-of-mortal-life/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/trifles-make-perfection-but-perfection-is-no-trifle/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Delude not yourself with the notion that you may be untrue and uncertain in trifles and in important things the contrary. Trifles make up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-maria-von-weber/delude-not-yourself-with-the-notion-that-you-may-be-untrue-and/) [Carl Maria von Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-maria-von-weber/) > [Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Trifles make the sum of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/trifles-make-the-sum-of-life/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [ . . . . \[P\]ersons who love very much, easily take offense at trifles. No doubt your excessive affection for me makes you a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/p-ersons-who-love-very-much-easily-take-offense-at-trifles-no-doubt/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor; This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/these-cardinals-trifle-with-me-i-abhor-this-dilatory-sloth-and-tricks/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [To forsake Christ for the world, is to leave a treasure for a trifle, eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jenkyn/to-forsake-christ-for-the-world-is-to-leave-a-treasure-for-a-trifle/) [William Jenkyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jenkyn/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) ## More by Emily Eden > [“Oh dear! how unamiable I am when I am with my uncle and aunt," thought Rachel, "thoroughly detestable I may say, and yet when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/oh-dear-how-unamiable-i-am-when-i-am-with-my-uncle-and-aunt-thought/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“What! another love story? My dear Blanche, I hope you are not going to turn into a match-maker; of all the dangerous manufactories in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/what-another-love-story-my-dear-blanche-i-hope-you-are-not-going-to/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“What am I to give the housemaids here? and do you object to my reading novels, if Lady Eskdale says there is no harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/what-am-i-to-give-the-housemaids-here-and-do-you-object-to-my-reading/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“Now, my dear Mr. Douglas, don't go off on those tiresome foreign affairs. What can it signify which conquers which, or who dethrones who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/now-my-dear-mr-douglas-don-t-go-off-on-those-tiresome-foreign-affairs/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“Oh! where is Truth? am I never to find it? I can bear artifice in the frivolities and gauds of the world–it is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/oh-where-is-truth-am-i-never-to-find-it-i-can-bear-artifice-in-the/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [I like a good murder that can't be found out. That is, of course it is very shocking, but I like to hear about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/i-like-a-good-murder-that-can-t-be-found-out-that-is-of-course-it-is/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“The girls were full of pity and admiration, and affirmed that when their mother understood Rachel a little better she would like her. "My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/the-girls-were-full-of-pity-and-admiration-and-affirmed-that-when/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“Thirty morning gowns!" whispered Sarah, as they went down stairs. "The idea of a new gown every day for a month. Now I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/thirty-morning-gowns-whispered-sarah-as-they-went-down-stairs-the/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [Why is it that fools always have the instinct to hunt out the unpleasant secrets of life, and the hardiness to mention them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/why-is-it-that-fools-always-have-the-instinct-to-hunt-out-the/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“Mrs. Douglas could hardly do less than make a very great grievance of what was intended as a kindness. She hated a wedding; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/mrs-douglas-could-hardly-do-less-than-make-a-very-great-grievance-of/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“To those who are not, like Wordsworth's primrose, "dwellers on the river's brim," it may be necessary to explain that an outrigger is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/to-those-who-are-not-like-wordsworth-s-primrose-dwellers-on-the-river/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“Oh, mamma!" said Eliza, "I wish you would not say that; and I wish they would ask us constantly to their house. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/oh-mamma-said-eliza-i-wish-you-would-not-say-that-and-i-wish-they/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [“Ever, while you live, choose the popular side in an election; that is, if you have no particular political prejudices of your own; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/ever-while-you-live-choose-the-popular-side-in-an-election-that-is-if/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [There is nothing so catching as refinement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/there-is-nothing-so-catching-as-refinement/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [It is always so, every pleasure comes exactly half an hour too late - Life! Life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/it-is-always-so-every-pleasure-comes-exactly-half-an-hour-too-late/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) [Explore all 30 Emily Eden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) ## More Trifles quotes > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [To forsake Christ for the world, is to leave a treasure for a trifle, eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jenkyn/to-forsake-christ-for-the-world-is-to-leave-a-treasure-for-a-trifle/) [William Jenkyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jenkyn/) > [These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor; This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/these-cardinals-trifle-with-me-i-abhor-this-dilatory-sloth-and-tricks/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [ . . . . \[P\]ersons who love very much, easily take offense at trifles. No doubt your excessive affection for me makes you a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/p-ersons-who-love-very-much-easily-take-offense-at-trifles-no-doubt/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [“Trifles cannot satisfy our longings. Sensual pleasures, power over our fellow man, the acquisition of things, these are babbles, toys, trifles. Our spirits yearn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaughn-heppner/trifles-cannot-satisfy-our-longings-sensual-pleasures-power-over-our/) [Vaughn Heppner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaughn-heppner/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let no one charge me with ever having abused or encouraged weakness or surrendered on matters of principle. But I have said, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/let-no-one-charge-me-with-ever-having-abused-or-encouraged-weakness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have been an "Official" all my life, without the least turn for it. I never could attain a true official manner, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allingham/i-have-been-an-official-all-my-life-without-the-least-turn-for-it-i/) [William Allingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allingham/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [If Christ has died for me, I cannot trifle with the evil that killed my best Friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-christ-has-died-for-me-i-cannot-trifle-with-the-evil-that-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A trifle is often pregnant with high importance; the prudent man neglects no circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-importance-the-prudent-man/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as so terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/we-are-not-to-look-upon-our-sins-as-insignificant-trifles-on-the/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who esteems trifles for themselves is a trifler; he who esteems them for the conclusions to be drawn from them, or the advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/he-who-esteems-trifles-for-themselves-is-a-trifler-he-who-esteems/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) [Browse all 348 Trifles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from trifles springs– Oh! let the ungentle spirit learn from thence A small unkindness is a great offence.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emily Eden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Trifles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/emily-eden-20730_quote_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_1832056.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/emily-eden-20730_quote_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_1832056.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/emily-eden-20730_quote_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_1832056.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from trifles springs– Oh! let the ungentle…” — Emily Eden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Emily Eden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Since trifles make the sum of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```